Leaving 8 year old for 20-30mins

[Mustthinkofacoolname]

Ds 8 is off school today as he had a dodgy tummy overnight and this morning. He's fine now and hasn't had any "movement" since around 9 this morning.

I have pick up younger ds from school and am Considering leaving older ds at home.
He's currently just lazing around in his pants and doesn't want to come to the school.
I've only ever left him alone for 5-10 minutes before.
Wwyd?

Sensible kid,not cooking , not answering door while you are out, not ill-recovering,knows what you are doing and when you are back. Of course.

Of course it's fine.

I left him, he was fine. Spent the whole time watching pokemon and texting me emoji faces!

Thanks for the reassurance. Sometimes I know things will be OK but I think I'm more worried about others judgement!

:)

I would have been another saying it would be fine. I first left my eldest for a similar period of time aged just turned 9, but I think the middle one might have still been 8 when I first left him (without his older brother - he was prob still 7 when I first left the two of them for a bit).

Surely being 'panicked' only happens for sudden/unwilling/uncommunicated being left?

Yes I have with my ds same age when he had chicken pox. He did text me to tell me he had gone up a level in plants vs zombies when I was gone getting his brother from nursery.

*Today 15:17 WillRikersExtraNipple

She made the valid point, which hadn't crossed my mind, that it's not about them being okay to be left on their own, it's about what will happen to them if you have an accident and are unable to let anyone know they're home alone

I don't understand this one at all. If you have an accident that would leave you unable to speak, surely you would rather they were home alone safe and not involved in the same horrible accident that presumably would have injured them too?*

I think it's more about whether the child would know what to do if you didn't come back. So sure, teach them about being safe in the home, not answering the door etc. but perhaps it's more important to tell them what to do if things don't go as expected.

Mines the same age and had been left for up to half an hour, no phone or problems.

She knows not to answer the door and we know our neighbours well if any problems arrive .

I've left mine much younger.

If it was only for 20 mins or so I wouldn't have a problem as long as I was sure it was a case of 'stay on the sofa/bed, here's your tablet' and that he could get to the loo 'if necessary'.

Glad it worked out. I do this and see no problem with it at that age.

You've left yours much younger CottonSock? Wow.

I'd would be OK with leaving him if he's sensible. I'd probably phone him once at the school to check everything is OK. That way you've only gone and short while between contacts.

I know it's too late now as you did it, but just wanted to say I would too. My DS is the same age and I've started leaving him for short times. He just plays Minecraft and doesn't answer the door. I wouldn't have done it so young with my DD as I was a bit over protective. I actually think it's good for him to be given a little bit of trust and it's never more than 20 mins.